Summary

Requires the President to publish a written explanation whenever clemency (pardon, commutation, reprieve, or remission of fines) is granted, and creates new procedures and reporting around clemency decisions. It directs the Justice Department Pardon Attorney to prepare a Justice Impact Statement when the President is considering clemency, requires outreach to victims and affected law enforcement, expands federal lobbying disclosure rules to cover clemency-related lobbying with rapid registration and reporting, and mandates periodic compliance studies and annual reports to Congress.

• President must publish a written explanation when granting any form of executive clemency on the date it is granted.
• DOJ Pardon Attorney must prepare a Justice Impact Statement when aware the President is considering clemency, including victim outreach and law enforcement input.
• Justice Impact Statements must be delivered to the President and Congress within 30 days of awareness, and still completed even if issued after clemency.
• Lobbying about potential clemency is covered lobbying: lobbyists must register within 2 days and report clemency contacts within 2 days, regardless of income thresholds.
• DOJ and White House employees must notify the Pardon Attorney immediately if they learn clemency is being considered.
• Pardon Attorney must begin compliance studies 180 days after enactment and thereafter biennially, with annual reports to Congress on findings and recommendations.
• A severability clause preserves the remainder of the law if parts are invalidated.
• The law increases transparency and procedural steps around clemency without changing the President's constitutional clemency power.